"I'd blow every one of those pirate nests out of the water before I'd pay one of those bloody Bashaws a sixpence!" [Illustration: "I'D BLOW EVERY ONE OF THOSE PIRATE NESTS OUT OF THE WATER BEFORE I'D PAY ONE OF THOSE BLOODY BASHAWS A SIXPENCE!" SAID THE COMMODORE.] "Then!" said Murad, "I'm afraid American commerce will find itself barred from the Mediterranean! I have no interest in the corsairs. I was merely trying to point out a way by which your skippers could find new markets over there without being attacked or imprisoned." "Well, just belay that advice when you're talking to a man who has fought for, and still will fight for the honor of his country!" growled the commodore. We followed the old sailor. "That fellow's in this land for no good!" the commodore said to the rector. "The last time I attended a session of Congress, I saw him listening to the debates. I reckon he's keeping the rulers of Barbary informed of what's going on over here. Those fellows want to know how rich our country is, so that they can tax us all that our finances can stand. I wouldn't be surprised, either, if Murad's not sending advices of our sailings, so that those pirates can be on the watch for our ships! "Both England and France want to bar us from the trade of the Orient, and their agents will convey to them there Bashaws any news this sneaking Murad sends them. Christian convert--my aunt! Once a Moslem always a Moslem! A trapper of Christians--that's what I think him!" Murad went on his way and we went ours. I was to have plenty of occasion to reflect on the commodore's opinion of the Oriental. Alexander stayed with us for two months after his return from England. Then he hurriedly shipped on a schooner bound for Boston. Its skipper, when he returned to Baltimore, brought us a note from my brother. In it he advised us that he had shipped on board the schooner _Marie_ sailing from Boston for Cadiz. This was in April, 1784. Over a year passed without bringing tidings of my brother. I had begun to fear that his ship had gone down, although the good rector, to comfort me, grumbled that there was a special Providence that took care of fools. CHAPTER II CAPTURED BY CORSAIRS "_What does it mean to them that somewhere men are free?_ _Naked and scourged and starved, they groan in slavery!_" The rector had encouraged me to browse through his library. He said that ministers should be well-read men. It was no hardship for me--I was fond of books. One day, as I was reading "Hakluyt's Voyages," he rushed into the room. His usually pale face was red and distorted from excitement. "David, I've news of your brother!" he cried. "I told you that there was a Providence that safeguarded scapegraces! He's in Algiers. He's been captured by pirates! They're holding him in slavery for ransom!" "Humph," said the commodore, who had followed him into the room, "I don't call that being guided by a special Providence!"